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03 March 2021
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Story Giselle Baillie
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Photo Supplied
_web.jpg?sfvrsn=987e6620_1 "NJ van Merwe Read More (1)_web")
Residence members who led the project, included:
Bohlokwa Rantja, the Residence Prime, and Transformation Committee members Nsuku Mutemela, Ofentse Motlakeng, Phindile Tjale, Madinku Mabala, Mmapopi Motshoso, Karabo Shuping, and Tagane Sekete.
The University of the Free State (UFS) Council approved and adopted Lehakwe House as the new name for the
NJ van der Merwe residence on the Bloemfontein Campus. The approval on 26 November 2020 followed a lengthy process of deliberation, consultation, and public engagement that has taken place since November 2019 and is aligned with the UFS Policy on Naming and Renaming. The name-change process was initiated by the Prime and Transformation Committee of the residence, guided by the
Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice and supported by a multi-stakeholder committee representative of the residence, the Housing and Residence Affairs Office, the Department of Student Affairs, the Student Representative Council, and alumni.
Lehakwe – a precious gem
Following a lengthy evaluation process of the names submitted through a public voting and recommendation platform in July 2020, ‘Lehakwe’ – a Sesotho word referring to a ‘precious gem’ – emerged as the front runner. As many current and past members of the residence attest, this womxn’s residence has come to occupy a significant space within the hearts and minds of UFS students and the UFS community, given that its spirit has always been closely aligned with the constitutional values of dignity, equality, and freedom and with the human values of ubuntu. In this vein, the new name of ‘Lehakwe’ presents a consolidation of constitutional and university values into the day-to-day thinking, learning, living, and legacy spaces of students, as well as everyone who interacts and engages with the UFS.
Vista students complete new B.Sc. programme
2007-06-18
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Students from the University of the Free State's (UFS) Vista Campus that enrolled in the four-year B.Sc. programme in 2003 at the former Vista University received their degrees during the recent autumn graduation ceremony. The students obtained their degrees within the minimum prescribed time of four years as indicated by the model developed at the Vista University. After the incorporation of the Vista University into the UFS, the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences was the first faculty to implement the new model. Later on a similar model was also introduced in the faculties of the Humanities, Law and Economic and Management Sciences. The model enables academically underdeveloped students to access the sciences and have their potential developed in a foundation year added to the customary three-year B.Sc. programme. Pictured here with the students are Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences) and next to him is Mrs Sheila Vrahimis (Lecturer in Concepts of General Science at the UFS). All the graduates are former students of Ms Vrahimis.
Photo: Supplied
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